Every Attorney & Law Firm Needs A Website

A lawyer’s website serves as an online foundation for all marketing – if nothing else, it serves as a modern day version of the yellow pages providing your basic contact information (when was the last time you used a telephone book to find a telephone number?).

But it can be so much more – it can be the source of new clients, who are looking for a lawyer just like you – new clients who have decided you are the lawyer for them because of the information they have found that addresses their specific legal issue or problem on your website; because you have anticipated their questions and provided the answers they need, creating trust in your knowledge and ability; because the reviews posted by satisfied clients provide the “word-of-mouth” confirmation they need that you are the right choice for them.

Because it is the one place you appear online where you control the information shared with others.

Because it is how people find lawyers to help them with their legal problems these days – a mobile society and changing demographics have changed how people find and hire attorneys these days and if you don’t have a website and take advantage of the internet, it’s unlikely those who need your professional services, will be able to find you.

I Don’t Have A Website | What Should I Do?

The first thing you need is to decide it’s time to start. It can be easy to get started and cost far less than you think to claim your place on the web.

Do It Yourself Website

Do-it-yourself website builders such as Wix, Weebly and Squarespace provide easy access to the web at minimal cost. These services may have limitations such as:

• search engine optimization (SEO) [which is how you are found on the web]
• limited features and customization
• ownership of your content
• time required to do it yourself

But, using one of these services begins your online foundation and gets you on the internet – and, it can serve as the start for a better website when you’re ready.

Do It Yourself Website (Added Degree Of Difficulty)

If you have computer skills, it is possible to create a website using other website creation tools: we recommend WordPress, a free, website creation tool that is widely considered to be the easiest and most powerful way to create your own website.

You will need to arrange to host the site which can be through WordPress or a third-party such as Google, GoDaddy, BlueHost, HostGator or others. You will need to create your site, using the tools available through WordPress and you can customize it as you wish.

The primary limitation is the time required to create your site, maintain it and deal with problems that may arise during set-up, when you add new content and dealing with the inevitable problems that arise when working with computers and the internet.

Hire A Website Designer

If the goal is to get it done, this is probably the best method to do so – you get to hold someone else accountable for getting it done, rather than telling yourself that you’ll do it, and then a week, a month or longer passes.

But, if it was that easy, you would have probably already done it by now; maybe, you were concerned about the cost; maybe, it was the high-pressure sales effort of the big legal-services provider trying to make up for lost revenue as their products and services are made irrelevant by the internet; maybe, you were concerned about losing control of the content of your website, especially the inability to update it quickly since you have to contact the creator, wait for them to respond and act – and what happens to your content if the website creator goes out of business or you decide you want someone else to manage your site – do you even own it?

All are valid concerns – ask any lawyer about their website experience and you’re likely to hear horror stories about outrageous set-up and maintenance costs, unfulfilled promises and delays – lots of delays.

And the dreaded “you don’t own the content, we do” when you finally decide to change your host or provider.

If it’s finally time to have someone create a website for you or your law firm that you own, control, can update easily and quickly and for far less cost than you expect, click here to see what Of Counsel | Legal Marketing can do for you.